Finally & Forever Read Online Free

heads up. I thought I explained a lot of this on the plane.”
    “You probably did.”
    Eli leaned back. He seemed to be studying her expression in the dim light. “Are you okay? How’s your back?”
    “It’s okay.” Katie was aware of how gritty her teeth felt and was certain her breath was deadly. Turning her head slightly so she wouldn’t blast Eli with her breath, she said, “Thanks, by the way, for not making fun of me when I said I’d been stabbed.”
    “That’s something I never take lightly.”
    Katie remembered how Eli had told her several months ago that the L-shaped scar behind his left ear had been inflicted on him when he was eleven years old and had wrestled with a knife-wielding intruder.
    The van turned onto a narrow road, and Katie could see that they were driving over a bridge. It was too dark to tell if a river was under the bridge or what kind of foliage grew along the roadside. They made another left turn and pulled up short in front of an imposing gate. A uniformed guard emerged from the booth next to the gate and waved to the driver before pressing the button that caused the gate to swing open.
    “Is this it?” Katie wasn’t sure what to expect, but this seemed much grander than she had pictured a retreat center.
    Eli shifted in his seat like a little boy filled with anticipation. “Yes, this is it. We’re here.”
    The van driver pulled up in front of a small building that had a turnaround space in front. A motion-sensitive security light turned on at the front of the stone building and lit up a patch of gorgeous blue flowers lining the front of the narrow porch.
    “I’ll grab the bags,” Eli said. “Can you get the two carry-ons?”
    “Sure.” Katie snatched up the two smaller pieces of luggage.
    As soon as Eli was out of the van with the suitcases, he went over to the driver’s open window, and the two of them entered into what seemed like a calm debate. Eli held up some Kenyan shillings, but the driver refused to take them. He spoke in English, but his accent was so heavy, Katie couldn’t tell what he was saying. In the headlights’reflected gleam, she could see his face. He was determined. Waving the handful of money at the driver once again, Eli spoke more forcefully. Katie heard him say he would not pay a “skin tax.” Was the driver trying to charge them a higher fee because they were white?
    Katie reminded herself that Eli was used to this. Such experiences were normal to him. She wasn’t sure if it would ever become normal to her.
    Glancing at the unlit windows of the building, she wondered if Eli’s parents lived there. Were they inside right now, waiting for them? Or had they gone to bed long ago, knowing Eli would wake them when he arrived? What would they say when they saw her?
    At the airport in San Diego when Katie surprised Eli by showing up, Eli had surprised her with something he said. He said his mom had a feeling Katie might come home with him. It was kind of cool and kind of freaky that Eli’s mom had called this even before Katie knew she was going to Kenya. Eli had said his mother was a praying woman, and she had been praying for this.
    Still, she felt jittery about the meeting that was about to take place.
What if Eli’s parents don’t like me? What if I don’t fit in here? Then what am I going to do?
    Eli settled the bill and now the driver headed back toward the gate.
    “How much did you end up paying?” Katie asked.
    “The set amount. Plus a little more. Not the extra he wanted, but a little more. It’s okay. It’s how things are done here. Are you ready?”
    Katie picked up her carry-on bag and felt a twinge in her shoulder, reminding her of the wound. She switched sides and asked, “Is this your parents’ house?”
    “No, this is the office. We have to go up the path to where my parents are staying. Are you okay with the shoulder bag?”
    “Yes, I’m fine. I can take something else. What do you want me to take?”
    “Are you